Fitting Out Guide - Presented by WoodenBoat Publications

Welcome to the 2022 Fitting Out Guide, a special online-only collection of articles on the subject of spring maintenance from WoodenBoat Publications. The 2022 Guide emphasizes the maintenance of finishes and features articles from the archives of WoodenBoat and Professional BoatBuilder. It is hosted on the online membership community Small Boats Magazine.

Varnish Repair and Maintenance Coats

A general outline of the process for a basic annual-maintenance varnish job

Healthy, well-maintained exterior varnished surfaces will require one maintenance coat per year, unless the boat is in a boathouse or under cover. Additional coats might be needed on surfaces subjected to high traffic, abrasion, or ultraviolet exposure, and more frequent recoating might be needed in the tropics.

A Smooth and Level Painted Finish

Parameters for success

This article is about how to get your paint to flow and level. And the first thing you can do to assure success— before adding stuff to your paint, and before refining your application technique—is to pick the proper weather.

Masking Tape Techniques

Preparation for painting success

A paint or varnish job is only as good as the taped edges that define it. It’s important to know what types of tapes to use, how to use them, and how to remove them to achieve a clean look.

A Shop-Made Painting Lamp

Surface reflection with LED lighting

A good finish depends on many factors, including the quality of the paint or varnish, the preparation of the surface, and the expertise of the painter. However, even with the best possible paint quality, preparation, and skill, success will be elusive without good lighting.

Ten Things That Can Hurt Your Wooden Boat

Well-intentioned practices that do more harm than good

Ten practices common to spring outfitting that can be detrimental to your boat.

Painting SYMRA

Careful preparation and no masking tape yield a timeless finish

SYMRA needed new paint on the cabin sides. That project serves as an example of how I prepare her for painting, and what can be done without tape.

Varnishing Basics

A Guide to the Instructions on the Can

Varnish provides excellent protection while showing the beauty of the wood, but it takes a consistent commitment of time and skill each year to maintain it.